Sea Shepherd Opens Vegan Tattoo Shop in Amsterdam

All proceeds from tattoos at the 40-year-old organization’s new parlor will benefit its campaigns to save marine life around the globe.

Vegan marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd recently opened a vegan tattoo shop in Amsterdam. Geert Vons, Sea Shepherd’s artistic director, founded the shop and is the principal artist who specializes in ocean-related and tribal designs, along with specially created Sea Shepherd logos. Many tattoo shops use inks that contain animal products—such as bone char, gelatin, and carmine—and sell aftercare lotions that are tested on animals. Sea Shepherd’s new shop uses only vegan products, and all proceeds from tattoos go toward supporting the organization’s campaigns—such as stopping illegal shark fishing in East Timor, protecting endangered loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean sea, and eliminating the Danish practice of slaughtering pilot whales in the Faroe Islands. The shop operates inside of Sea Shepherd’s store in Amsterdam’s Museum District, and tattoos are currently available by appointment only.